Judging a book by its cover

  • By Liz Lidgett
  • 02 Jun, 2020
One of the better parts of quarantine has been an increase in the amount of time I can read—and I am burning through books left and right. My dear friend and realtor, Sara Hopkins mentioned that she loved the cover of Untamed by Glennon Doyle and that it reminded her of an artwork by Kristi Kohut—well Sara, I love the way your mind works! Let’s pair books and art for this blogpost; two of my favorite things!

Untamed by Glennon Doyle and Butterfly Blooming, Kristi Kohut

Kristi Kohut, Butterfly Blooming, Mixed Media, 38 x 38 in, $3,775 ($377.50/mo)
Kristi Kohut, Butterfly Blooming, Mixed Media, 38 x 38 in, $3,775 ($377.50/mo)
Untamed has been the book that my friends and I have discussed during quarantine. As with many books there were parts I connected with, and many I didn’t but I think the overall message of living a life that is most true and wonderful to you (outside of other people’s expectations) is an important one. The cover has the most beautiful swirl of texture, bright colors, and a good dose of glitter. Kristi’s bold colors, touch of glitter and kaleidoscope image seems to fit right in. Plus the neon frame is the perfect unexpected choice that aligns right with the author’s idea of thinking outside the box and living a life without barriers.

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens and Valley Layers, Karin Olah

Karin Olah, Valley Layers, Mixed media with textiles on linen, 18 x 18 in, $650
Karin Olah, Valley Layers, Mixed media with textiles on linen, 18 x 18 in, $650
I’ll be honest, I’m just on the library waitlist for this one (Do you all use OverDrive and your local library’s app? It’s amazing.) but many of my friends and my husband have read this book. It’s set in the very rural country of North Carolina and, I’ve been told, has beautiful descriptions of nature in the Carolinas. Part mystery, part love letter to the south’s landscape—I am very excited to get my hands on this book. Karin Olah’s Valley Layers is a similar tribute to southern landscape and feels like it could be the cover itself.

Harry Potter and The Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling and Comet, Rachel Walter

Rachel Walter, Comet 2, Oil on canvas, 20 x 20 in, $800
Rachel Walter, Comet 2, Oil on canvas, 20 x 20 in, $800
This is the book I go back to again and again when I need a “reading refresh.” Do you have a book you go back to when you need to fall in love with reading again and you’re in a rut? It’s not my favorite book of all time—that’s The Alchemist by Paulo Coehlo—but it’s the perfect mix of creative, beautifully written, and a speed read that gets me in the right mindset for the next book. I read it recently again while I was in my own quarantine rut and it was just the soothing balm to my soul that I needed. I instantly loved Rachel Walter’s Comet when it walked into the gallery, and I think partly because it reminds me of magic and that wonderful Hogwart’s Great Hall ceiling

Beach Read by Emily Henry and Silver Linings Rainbow, Betsy Enzensberger 

Betsy Enzensberger, Silver Linings Rainbow, Resin, wood, ink and glitter, 6.50 x 3.50 x 3.50 in, $300
Betsy Enzensberger, Silver Linings Rainbow, Resin, wood, ink and glitter, 6.50 x 3.50 x 3.50 in, $300

This book gives you a bit more than your idea of a “beach read.” It feels weightier but gives you that same wonderful feeling of speeding through a book and the perfect mix of happy and sad that you finished a book you liked. It follows two writers over a summer long challenge and is all about second chances. Betsy’s melting popsicles have always given me that summer feeling of a delicious (and beautiful) popsicle that you can still save and eat while it’s beginning to melt. They’re both all about summer and second chances.

Sure, you’re not supposed to judge a book by its cover but I have found people can fall in love with artwork for a myriad of reasons and one of those might just be it reminds you of a favorite book. That’s the wonderful thing about artwork—you can connect with it for so many reasons.

Liz Lidgett, author
By Sara Kent-Schneider April 17, 2025
Take a peek at these finishing touches that bring warmth and personality to each space. We hope these beautiful installations spark a little inspiration for your own home.
By Sara Kent-Schneider April 9, 2025
A vibrant, mixed-media exhibition that reimagines the timeless beauty of flowers through the distinct and dynamic perspectives of seven contemporary artists.
By Sara Kent-Schneider April 3, 2025
A look at before-and-after mural shots, insights into the artists’ painting approaches, and our process of bringing these murals to life from start to finish.
Show More